Gas producer



Jena 3, 1928.

C. W. LUMMIS GAS PRODUCER Filed July lO, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f ovney Jan. 3, 1928s C. W. LUMMIS GAS PRODUCER Filed July 10, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT o FicE.

CHARLES W; LUMMIS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 MORGAN CON- STRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF GAS PRODUCER.

Application filed July 10.

The present invention relates to gas proiucers and is designed to improve the construction and operation of devices of this class with particular reference to the instrumentalities employed for effecting the discharge of ashes therefrom.

The present invention contemplates the removal or discharge of ashes from the producer at the central or axial portion thereof, instead of from the edge or peripheral portion, as is the usual practice in devices of this class. To this end, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter set forth, reference being had in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a producer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1. s

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing certain modifications of the ash dischargin devices.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

The invention is herein shown as applied to a gas producer of ordinary construction, the same comprising the usual stationary shell 1 which is supported by posts or uprights 2, 2. The bed of fuel 3 that undergoes gasification in said shell may be continuously agitated or levelled by any known device for this purpose, here shown as a ro-= tating leveller 4 of conventional construction.

The producer gas generated by the partial combustion of fuel in the shell 1 makes exit throu h a flue 5, as is common in devices of this c ass.

The ashes -that underlie the fuel bed 3 are supported, at the outer portion of the shell l, upon an annular ash pan 6, which is integrally united to the shell structure so as to constitute the stationary bottom thereof. Said ash pan 6 has a central aperture 7 through which the ashes are discharged in the manner hereinafter described. The ashes at the central portion of the shell, above this aperture 7, are supported by a blast distributor 8, here shown in the form of a series of superposed concentric blast hoods of well known form, beneath the edges of which the blastthat passes upwardly through the corn tral blast pipe 9 escapes laterally and radi 1919. Serial No. 309,859.

' ally into the fuel bed. The blast distributor 8 overhangs the inner peripheral edge of the ash pan 6, which edge provides an upstanding flange 10, that serves to maintain a slight depth of water in the bottom of the shell on the surface of the ash pan, for the purpose of cooling the latter.

The blast distributor 8 is adapted to be continuously rotated in the shell 1, and to this end it is made part of a rotating structure 12, as here shown by webs 11, 11, or the like, that unite the central blast feed pipe 9 with said rotating structure 12. The latter is of substantially annular form, and has a central opening 13 crossed by said webs, which opening is' below and in registration with the opening 7 through the ash pan 6. The structure 12 is mounted for rotation on a plurality of radially arranged rollers 14 that are carried in suitable brackets 15 depending from the ash pan 6. Said structure 12 carries an annular rack 16 having in mesh therewith a driving pinion 17 that is rotated from any suitable source of power, not shown.

In surrounding relation to the opening 13 therethrough, the structure 12 provides an annular water chamber 18 into which projects an annular flange 19 depending from the bottom of the ash pan 6. In this way a water seal is formed between the rotating structure 12 and the stationary ash pan 6. In the same way, the rotating structure 12 makes a water seal with a suitably supported, concentric stationary ash conveying member 20 disposed below the same, said member 20 providing an annular water chamber 21 into which dips a flange 22 depending from the structure 12. The blast of air, or air and steam, is conducted to the distributor 8 by means of a stationary pipe or tube 23 which enters through and is supported by the ash conveying member 20, said pipe 23 making a running joint with the rotating contra. portion 9 of the blast distributor.

For the purpose of crowding the ashes in wardly, and raising them over the flange 16 of the ash an 6, there is provided an ash plow 25, w ich is continuously rotated by contact therewith of a lug as (in blast device 8, and which is adapted to sweep over the annular surface of the ash pan 6. As show i in Fig. 2, said plow provides a plurality of arms or sweeps 26 adapted to rotate in a clockwise direction and so curved that their movement will force the ashes inwardly toward the opening 7. At their inner ends these'arms or sweeps 26 have upwardly inclined portions 27 on the surfaces of which the ashes ride upwardly so as to clear the ash that is formed in the fuel bed is deflected downwardly by the blast distributor 8 and collects on the annular surface of the ash pan 6. The rotation of the plow 25, through its connection with the rotating blast structure, operates continuously to crowd the ashes inwardly, and to raise them over the flange 10, whereupon they descend by gravity through the opening 7. The ash thus continuously discharged from the producer shell makes its exit through the annular passage 13 provided by the rotating structure 12, and thence passes into the stationary conveying member 20.

The conveying member 20 preferably opens into a receiver 29, in which water is maintained to a depth suflicient to cover the lower end of member 20. As herein shown, a suitable rotating discharge device 30 is operable in the receiver 29 for the purpose of effecting the final removal of ashes from the producer. The shaft 31 of device 30 has a bearing 32 in the blast tube 23 and is connected to a spider 9 of the blast passage 9, in order to obtain its rotation in unison with the blast distributor 8. The central or axial discharge of ashes from the producer is thus accomplished without the loss of any gas from the shell 1. It is clear that any leakagp of gas is prevented'by the water seals w ich the structure 12 makes, both with the ash pan 6, and with the stationary conveying member 20, and also the water seal which the latter makes with the receiver 29.

In the modified form of device shown 1n Fig. 3, the action is substantially the same, although the intermediate stationary conveying member 20 of Fig. 1 is omitted. In place of the latter, a downward extension 33 is provided on the rotating ash conveying structure 12', which latter corresponds in all essential particulars with the rotating structure 12 of Fig. 1. Said rotating extension 33 con-ducts the ashes to a receiver 34 and makes a seal with the water contained b said receiver. A suitable device 35, carried by extension 33, my be employed in the receiver 34 to effect the final removal of ashes from the producer, as above described.

As shown in Fig. 3, the connection of the plow 25 to the rotating blast structure is at the will of the operator, and hence the discharge of ashes need not be continuous, but can be intermittent, or in other words, the rotation of the blast distributor 8can take place, without causing any ash discharge. For his purpose the plow is provided with an inwardly projecting lug 36 that stands in the path of a latch member 37 carried by central blast pipe 9. When the latch member 37 is raised, an operative connection is established between the rotating blast structure and the plow 25, and thereupon the ashes will be discharged by the said plow over the flange 10 so as to descend by gravity through the central portion of the rotating structure 12. The latch is raised and lowered by a rocking arm 38 that projects through the extension 33. By this construction the discharge of ashes can be made to take place either continuously or intermittently, at the will of the operator; in other Words, when desired, the discharge of ashes can be interrupted without affecting the continuous rotation of the blast distributor-8, thus insuring at all times an equal distribution of blast to the bed of fuel, and the continuous agitation of same by said blast distributor. The admission of blast to the central portion 9 of the blast distributor 8 is by the centrally or axially disposed pipe 39 which passes upwardly through the receiver 34 and the rotating structure 12'.

I claim:

1. In a gas producer, a fuel shell, a bottom secured to said shell and constituting a support of the bed ofash and fuel contained in said shell, said bottom having an opening substantially in the center thereof, means for maintaining a depth of water upon said bottom around said central opening, and means for procuring'the removal of ashes from the interior to the exterior of the producer through said central opening of said bottom.

2. In a gas producer, an annular bottom for the support of the bed of fuel, a flange at the inner periphery of said bottom, whereby to maintain a depth of water on the surface of said bottom, and a device operable to crowd ashes inwardly on said bottom and over said flange.

3. In a gas producer, a rotating blast device disposed axially of the producer in superposed relation to an opening in the producer bottom, means operable by the rotation of said device for procuring the discharge of ashes through said opening, and means for discontinuing the discharge of ashes, while still permitting the rotation of said device.

4. In a gas producer, the combination with a fuel containing shell, of a rotary structure supplying blast to the fuel in said shell,

said rotary structure providing an outer wall surrounding its blast supply passage and forming an annular passage for the discharge of ashes from said shell, means forforming a seal between said-outer wall of said annular passage and the bottom of said shell, and means for forcing the ashes on said bottom toward said annular passage, for gravity discharge therethrough.

5. In a gasproducer, the combination with a fuel containing shell, of a rotary structure supplying blast to the fuel in said shell, said rotary structure providing an outer wall surrounding its blast supply passage and formin an annular passage for the discharge of as es from said shell, means for forcing the ashes in said shell'toward said annular passage, for gravity discharge therethrough,

said outer wall having a downward extensaid rotary structure providing an outer wall surrounding its blast supply passagev and forming an annular passage for the discharge of ashes from said shell, means for forcing the ashes in said shell toward said annular passage, for gravity discharge therethrough, said outer wall having a downward extension, an ash receiving means with which said extension makes a seal, and

means rotatablein unison with said rota structure for effecting the removal of ashes from said ash receiving means.

Dated this 8th day of July, 1919.

CHARLES W. LUMMIS. 

